THE SPECTRUM GAME DATABASE REBELSTAR PUBLISHER Firebird AUTHOR Julian Gollop YEAR 1986 DESCRIPTION Rebelstar is a 1 or 2 player futuristic strategic wargame. CONTROLS Q W E A D These keys constitute the 8 directions, for example Z X C Q is up-left. Only certain keys work at certain times depending on which menu you are in. All of the following keys are also given on-screen. N - Next Unit S - Select K - Cancel O - Change object (then select a number) F - Fire (then select the type of shot) R - Reload I - Information M - Drop object 0 - End Turn INSTRUCTIONS Depending on which snapshot you have, it will either be a one or two player game. If it is a one player, the human player always controls the Raiders. The aim of the game for the Raiders is to break into Moonbase Delta and destroy the core, located at the middle top of the base. The aim of the Operatives is to kill all the Raiders. Once one of these conditions is fulfilled, the game will end as soon as the current turn finishes. Both sides take turns to move their pieces. At the start of each turn, all the units on that side receive a certain number of Action Points, which they then spend during the turn to complete certain actions. For example, moving horizontally costs 2 points (unless it is over difficult terrain in which case it will cost more). Everything costs a certain number of points, and once all these are spent that unit can do no more for that turn. To move through the units under your control, you can either press N to go to the next unit, or simply move the cursor over the top of them. Until you actually select a unit, you can move freely around the map. Press S to select a unit. To move a unit, simply press the direction that you want them to walk in. Other keys represent other actions. To attack another unit, simply walk your own unit into them. When shooting, the map will change to only show scenery that will get in the way of the bullets. You must move the cursor over the target, and then select the type of shot. Each has it's own cost and chance of success. You will then see the bullets shoot across the map, and if you are luck, hit the target. Each of the units has various stats which will determine how good they are at certain things. The basic settings for a unit can be seen on the right hand side of the screen as soon as the unit is selected, but for a more detailed view, select info. TIP/CHEATS - The Raiders will receive re-inforcements during the game if they manage to destroy all of the laser defences. - Don't forget that when a unit has died, his weapons can still be used. - There are many objects lying around the base that have various uses. There are coffee tokens, which can be used in the coffee machines, and even a lawnmower. - Only the Rebel robots are able to destroy the airlocks to enter the base. They are also required to destroy the core, although the Photon does also have a small chance of destroying it. SEQUELS/PREQUELS Rebelstar was the follow up to Rebelstar Raiders, a BASIC program. In addition, it was followed by Rebelstar 2 and Laser Squad. It could also be though of as the precursor to the PC/Amiga game UFO, due to the strong similarities. INLAY CARD TEXT "REBELSTAR" By Julian Gollop (1986) Instructions taken from "The Rebelstar Collection" Players' Manual (1991) by Julian Gollop. COPYRIGHT Julian Gollop has kindly agreed to this game being made Public Domain. Anyone is freely allowed to duplicate and distribute this game for use in Spectrum emulators. It is requested that the identification of Julian Gollop as the author of this software is not removed and the code not altered. INTRODUCTION The Rebelstar Raiders have discovered the secret location of ISAAC, the imperial computer intelligence responsible for breaking the Rebels secret codes. The computer is concealed in a moonbase disguised as a mining colony. Moonbase Delta is well defended, but the ISAAC computer must be destroyed at all costs. PLAYING THE GAME There are two sides in Rebelstar. The Raiders are attacking Moonbase Delta and the Operatives are defending. In the one player game you control the Raiders and the computer controls the Operatives. Each side consists of a certain number of soldiers and droids, collectively known as units. Each unit is allocated a number of 'action points' each turn, which are expended by performing all actions, such as movement or firing. The Raiders have the first turn. They must break into the base and destroy ISAAC. The operatives must defend ISAAC. There are three basic control modes in Rebelstar; Cursor mode, Select mode and Fire mode. DIRECTION KEYS Q W E each key corresponds to the direction A D you want the unit to move in Z X C CURSOR MODE CURSOR MOVEMENT: Use the direction keys to move the cursor around the map. The map will scroll when you move the cursor to the edge of the map window. S - Select a unit under the cursor for movement and other actions. The computer will change to select mode, shown by a flashing unit. 0(zero) - End turn. Control is passed to the other player, or the computer in the one player game. I - Display information on a unit under the cursor N - Go to next unit SELECT MODE In this mode the direction keys are used to move the selected unit. Other controls are as follows: F - Enter fire mode. This is only possible if the unit is carrying a ranged combat weapon M - Drop the object in use P - Pick up an object O - Change the object in use. Units can carry more than one object, but only one object can be 'in use' at any one time L - Load weapon. The unit must have a weapon in use and be carrying the correct ammunition FIRE MODE When you select fire mode the map will change to display only things which block the line of fire. Units will change to a round blob. The aiming cursor is moved using the direction keys. When you fire a weapon there are three different types of shot you can make: 1 - Fire an aimed shot. Accurate, but consumes many action points 2 - Fire a snap shot. Less accurate than an aimed shot but much quicker U - Set opportunity fire. This is a special form of fire which is not taken immediately, but is 'activated' during the opponents turn. The shot will be fired if an enemy unit moves in the line of fire you have set between your unit and the aiming cursor. The following ammunition is required for each weapon: Laser Gun Laser Pack-1 Laser Pistol Laser Pack-2 Photon Laser Pack-3 Pistol Pistol Clip Auto-Rifle Rifle Clip DAMAGE, DESTRUCTION AND WOUNDING When a shot hits a unit it may cause damage, wounding or death. Each hit will inflict a random number of damage points depending on the power of the weapon being used and the distance the weapon is fired. Damaged units have their action point allowance reduced. USING OBJECTS Certain objects have special uses in the game. When you want to use an object on something you must have the object in use and then move into the unit or terrain. The yellow security doors can be open and shut with keys. Medi-probes can be used to heal wounded human, and droid-probes can be used to repair droids. The droid key is needed to activate droids. A GUIDE TO PLAYING THE GAME Only the combat droids with their blast torches can destroy the airlock doors and security doors. However a blast torch has a very short range and low ammunition capacity. There are three laser defense computers in the complex. If these are destroyed by the Raiders then Raider reinforcements will arrive a few turns later. SCORES RECEIVED Sinclair User - 8/10 URL There are two versions of Rebelstar; for 1 and 2 players. GENERAL FACTS Julian Gollop is famous for thinking up strange names for characters in his games. With names like Stike Vomit, Leon Trotsky and Leeder Krenon, we have to ask ourselves; is this man sane? There is a also a missing droid in Rebelstar! There isn't a name in there so it must be a Graphic Julian did but never put in the game. So I thought I would alter this, here are the pokes that changes the graphic of the Sentry Droid to the new droid. You can enter these pokes via your Spectrum emulator,multiface or you can merge the basic loader and place the following program. 10 For f=61519 to 61550:Read a:poke f,a:next f 20 Data 7,207,121,205,31,23,21,55 30 Data 224,243,158,179,248,248,248,252 40 Data 37,39,109,77,73,255,137,255 50 Data 252,124,254,126,222,255,223,255 60 Poke 44292,71:Poke 44293,85:Poke 44294,78:Poke 44295,129 70 Poke 44358,71:Poke 44359,85:Poke 44360,65:Poke 44361,82 80 Poke 44362,68:Poke 44363,129 NOTES Julian Gollop, as well as the sequels to Rebelstar, has also written Nebula.